Filipino-Japanese karateka Junna Tsukii may have encountered a bump right on her Road to Tokyo 2020 return with an early exit in the Karate 1 Premier League in Istanbul, Turkey, but the journey is far from being over.

The country’s top karateka in kumite is set to return to Serbia for a training camp in order to rebound from her 5-1 1st round loss to Venezuelan Yorgelis Salazar in the female -50kg kumite event on Friday, March 12.

“The match was not bad. However, I am accepting this result, and I will return to Serbia for training until May for my next tournament,” Tsukii told Rappler.

The 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games gold medalist is set to participate in the Karate1 Premier League in Lisbon, Portugal from April 30 to May 2.

Tsukii is currently ranked world No. 10 in the female kumite -50kg division.

She is targeting to make the Olympic cut via the Asian rankings where the No. 1 will be able to claim a ticket to Tokyo. 

Tsukii will only have to overtake Iranian Bahmanyar and world No. 6 Ranran Li of China in the standings as host country Japan is already guaranteed an automatic spot. (READ: Girl power: Who are the women leading PH’s Olympic drive?).

Tsukii managed to receive training in both Japan and Serbia before returning to the karate season, which was cut short last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. – Rappler.com